Former Memorial University President Timmons Returns Indigenous Award

Vianne Timmons, previous president of Memorial University in Newfoundland and Labrador, has returned an award recognizing Indigenous accomplishments in the wake of reports questioning her asserted Mi’kmaq heritage. Indspire’s spokesperson, Brandon Meawasige, confirmed via email in reporting by CTV, that Timmons had given the award back; however, he did not disclose when or the reasons behind it.

Indigenous individuals administer the Indspire Awards to honor Indigenous people. The news of Timmons’ award return was initially reported by The Independent, a news agency based in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Timmons received the honor in 2019. The returning of the award followed an investigation by CBC News, which scrutinized her claims of Mi’kmaw heritage and her former membership in an unrecognized band.

Timmons has consistently emphasized that she does not assert an Indigenous identity while acknowledging her Mi’kmaw roots. Following the publication of the CBC investigation in early March, she offered an apology. She took a temporary break from her role as the head of Newfoundland and Labrador’s sole university. However, less than four weeks later, the university’s governing body decided to relieve her of her duties.

CBC News reported that Indspire’s vice president of communications and marketing, Brandon Meawasige, confirmed that Timmons returned the award in an email to CBC News on Tuesday morning. Concerning the specifics of what transpired, Meawasige has not reacted according to CBC.